As of 2015, the MI Division of Panasonic Holdings Corporation has been involved in research and development initiatives aimed at reducing the use of petroleum-based plastics through cinerarya bio-based material whose large production has significant environmental impacts, also due to limited recycling rates.
By developing innovative bio-based composite resins, the company aims to contribute to a resource-conscious society — offering a material that is inherently plant-based and, depending on its composition, fully compostable at the end of its life.
©Panasonic Holdings Corporation
©Panasonic Holdings Corporation
©Panasonic Holdings Corporation
©Panasonic Holdings Corporation
©Panasonic Holdings Corporation
©Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Kinari material – Features:
Up to 85% cellulose fibers, zero compromise on performance
Focusing on naturally derived cellulose fibers, Panasonic Holdings Corporation has developed kinari, a plant-based material that contains up to 85% cellulose fibers while maintaining properties similar to those of conventional petroleum-based plastics. They also introduced a completely dry production process that eliminates the use of water, significantly reducing energy consumption and reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional production methods.
From electronics boxes to car parts: a material for everyday life
The aim is to offer one alternative material embedded in electronic components and everyday products, enabling applications in home appliance housings, building materials, automotive components and other everyday items. To support this transition, Panasonic Holdings Corporation has demonstrated a complete life cycle system covering production, disposal, sorting and recycling. Depending on the composition of the product, the material will either be mechanically recycled and reused in new kinari products or biodegraded.
Cost parity, full biodegradability and wood-like aesthetics
The company is improving production processes to keep costs comparable to petroleum-based resins while developing fully biodegradable materials with similar strength and performance. Kinari products are available in several forms: one that maintains the properties of the original material and another that allows greater color flexibility. Thanks to the dry process, high-concentration cellulose fiber materials can achieve controlled, natural color variations and a wood-like aesthetic, even without the use of pigments, improving both the sustainability and appearance of the design.
Plant waste as feedstock — and a nine-month composting window
Overall, cinnabar is a material that reduces resource consumption, energy use and CO₂ emissions by using overlooked plant waste (such as forest thinning wood, post-consumer wood, cobs, algae, etc.) as raw material. In addition, Panasonic Holdings Corporation is also developing products certified for complete biodegradation within nine months under industrial composting conditions, in line with its research and development goals.
